Flamengo sign Arsenal defender Santos

Brazilian soccer giant Flamengo has signed Arsenal defender Andre Santos on a two-year contract.

Santos completed the player's medical here Thursday after negotiations were fast-tracked to meet Brazil's July 20 transfer deadline, reports Xinhua.

Under terms of the deal, Flamengo will own 50 percent of the player's transfer rights and Santos the rest.

The 30-year-old fell out of favour with Gunners manager Arsene Wenger last year after managing just 23 first-team appearances in 18 months.

He joined Gremio on loan in February but was released following the Porto Alegre side's exit from the Copa Libertadores in May.

The left-back represented Flamengo in 2005 and 2006, helping the club win the Copa do Brasil in his second year.